eNews · October 2016

What's New

In response to popular feedback, we’ve extended the deadline for this important online dialogue to this Friday, October 21. Don’t miss your chance to join the conversation! PEAT and the Department of Labor (DOL) need your help to brainstorm and evaluate ideas about the kinds of policies, programs, and structures that need to be in place to advance and support accessible workplace technology—and ways that both PEAT and DOL can support them.

Today, the ability to use ICT technologies is a core element of most jobs, but many applications and websites aren't accessible to everyone. What if employees could use the access features they need anywhere, anytime, on any device? In our September PEAT Talk, Gregg Vanderheiden revealed that this reality may be closer than you think.

It’s no surprise that a team effort is essential for providing accessibility professionals with a strong network of professional support. In our August PEAT Talk, Rob Sinclair discussed how the recent merger of IAAP and G3ict will promote and support the accessibility profession on a more global scale.

Save the Date

Please join Maria Town, Senior Associate Director for the White House Office of Public Engagement, for a celebratory webinar in honor of NDEAM. Learn more about the important work that the current Administration has done to promote the use of accessible technology in workplaces nationwide, and find out how you can promote diverse workplaces year-round.

In order to ensure that your eRecruiting materials and other website content is accessible, it’s essential that your website include properly formatted tables. Gian Wild of Accessibility Oz will provide a hands-on demonstration of coding and sequence requirements for both data tables and layout tables, and the easy way to determine the difference between table types.

Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer of Microsoft, will share valuable guidance on creating a workplace culture focused on access and inclusion. Learn from Jenny's insights on key strategies to encourage employees at every level to embrace and promote accessibility and take away best practices to apply to your workplace.​

The Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) is a multi-faceted initiative promoting the employment, retention, and career advancement of people with disabilities through the development, adoption, and promotion of accessible technology. To learn more, visit www.PEATworks.org.

In Focus

Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu discusses why an inclusive mindset is critical for building both productive workplaces and technology innovations—and why it's important that as many people as possible help DOL and PEAT brainstorm ideas for advancing accessible workplace technology by participating in the national dialogue.

Perkins School for the Blind and Harvard Extension School have partnered to provide a free online course titled “Introduction to Inclusive Talent Acquisition” for hiring managers and recruiters. The curriculum includes PEAT’s own TalentWorks tool, which provides key resources to help employers make their eRecruiting technologies accessible.

PEAT is funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, Grant #OD-23864-12-75-451. PEAT material does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.